Medical-pot licensee Delahunt dismisses political-clout notion

Friday

Jan 31, 2014 at 10:15 PM

Four medical-marijuana dispensaries in communities south of Boston could open for business as early as this summer now that the state has approved 20 sites across 10 of the state's 14 counties. Former U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, head of the nonprofit that got three of the licenses, dismissed the notion that politics played a role in the selection process.

Chris Burrell The Patriot Ledger @Burrell_Ledger

QUINCY – Four medical-marijuana dispensaries in communities south of Boston could open for business as early as this summer now that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has approved 20 sites across 10 of the state's 14 counties.Quincy, Brockton, Plymouth and Taunton will host marijuana dispensaries and generate revenue for the municipalities. Across the state, an estimated 120,000 patients diagnosed with debilitating diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are expected to use dispensaries to obtain marijuana.

Selected from a field of 100 applicants, Medical Marijuana of Massachusetts Inc., was the sole nonprofit to secure three medical marijuana licenses – for locations in Plymouth, Taunton and Mashpee. The firm's president is former U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, who served in Congress from 1998 to 2012 and was Norfolk County district attorney for 21 years.

Walpole Deputy Police Chief John Carmichael, a member of the selection committee, said politics played no role in the process.

Delahunt dismissed the notion that he even wields political clout.

"There's been a lot of speculation about politics," he told The Patriot Ledger Friday afternoon, "but I've been out of government and elected office for three years. I don't have any say over any budgets in the public sector."

The Registered Marijuana Dispensary licenses are provisional, subject to local permits and inspections.

Under state regulations, the dispensaries will be required to pay a yearly registration fee of $50,000.

The state rejected applications for dispensaries in Stoughton and Bridgewater, and for a second one in Plymouth. Eight applicants – including one proposing a Holbrook dispensary – were invited to submit proposals in counties where no dispensaries have yet been approved.

Massachusetts is among 20 states that allow for medical marijuana use.

Many doctors are skeptical and caution would-be patients.

"Patients should remember that marijuana lacks the rigorous testing of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration; that claims for its effectiveness have not been scientifically proven; and that it poses health risks of toxins and cognitive impairment, the last condition being especially risky for young patients," Dr. Ronald Dunlap, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, said in a statement.

Delahunt said his firm's three dispensaries aim to open by July 1. The Plymouth dispensary, in a 46,000-square-foot warehouse in an industrial park on Collins Avenue, is banking on serving more than 4,200 patients in the first year and seeing total sales exceed $3.4 million.

The dispensary will pay Plymouth $20,000 in that first year and another $100,000 a year if there are revenue surpluses.

But Plymouth Selectmen Chairman Mathew Muratore said Friday he is most concerned about the possibility of marijuana getting into the wrong hands.

"Plymouth is no different from other communities that have problems with drugs," he said. "There are parents here who smoke dope with their teenaged kids. You get worried when there's more access to it. It's a huge concern."

Material from The Associated Press was used in this article. Reach Chris at cburrell@ledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @Burrell_Ledger.